Work with me: Swerdlow Improvement Partners

How an engagement starts

The analysis is the easy part. The harder work is asking the right question first, defending a decision made on imperfect data, and meeting an accountability demand without reducing the work to compliance.

First · 15 minutes
Talk it through
A free 15-minute discovery call about the decision in front of you. Before we hang up, you hear what I took away and how I could help.
Next · Within a week
See it in writing
Within a week, you get a page or two with the question, the work, the timeline and the cost. We shape it together until it fits.
Then · Once you approve
Get to work
Once you approve the scope, we start. I get to know your people, dive into the research and work alongside your team.

To book a discovery call, email me at amanda@swerdlowpartners.com.

Ways to work together

Day sessions

A full day with your team, built around the decision in front of you. Your team works through it with its own program and data and leaves with decisions made. Some sessions start from one of my free tools:

Before you open the dataThe team answers the three questions for one of its own programs.
The curveLeaders place their programs on the curve and decide what to keep, fix or study.
The pebble problem and the look-back gridA team audits its improvement cycles or PLCs and picks the problem that moves outcomes.

Projects

Larger work drawn from my capabilities or built around your question, such as an applied research study or a materials review. Each project starts with a written scope.

Advising

A standing monthly meeting with a leader or leadership team to think through decisions as they come up, with help between meetings.

I can also review a plan, survey or board presentation before it goes out.

Ongoing partnership

A yearlong arrangement where I work alongside your teams. It can include attending PLC meetings, running studies and leading day sessions across the year, shaped around what your organization needs.

Speaking and conference sessions

Sessions for conferences and leadership teams on evaluation, accountability and continuous improvement, including the ideas in my resources.

Working with firms

Firms that hold the relationship with a district, state or funder can bring me onto the team as a supporting consultant. I can take a whole evaluation or one strand of it, such as the qualitative work, a materials review or a measurement plan. When asked, I work in your templates and under your brand, alongside your analysts and reviewers. Projects can start with me at kickoff or bring me in partway through. When a firm holds the relationship, the firm sets the scope and we agree on my part.

Reach out when a decision is coming and you want a clear picture first.

Send a short note about the program or question and the decision you are facing.

amanda@swerdlowpartners.com

I read every note myself and reply within the week.